Phony Title Yields Real Privileges Man Says 'Senator' And Gets Best In Life

LAUDERHILL — Frank Roberts reaps the perks of life reserved for the lucky few who carry the title ''Senator.'' Airlines, hotels, restaurants and even politicians afford him top-notch treatment.

Not bad for a 55-year-old who when pressed admits he is not now nor ever has been a senator. For 23 years he has simply introduced himself as Senator Roberts.

Doing that has produced occasional box seats to major league baseball games, airlines offering first-class treatment at tourist rates and letters of appreciation from President Reagan.

''Just send them five bucks as a campaign donation and they will call you anything, including senator,'' Roberts said.

From his house just a few driveways down from Jackie Gleason's homestead, Roberts has written a 149-page manuscript, titled Honored Guest, that outlines his escapades.

Roberts now is entering the real world of politics. He has opened a campaign account to run for mayor of Lauderhill, west of Fort Lauderdale in Broward County.

A public relations man and former television director from New York City, Roberts can look pure Manhattan in a well-tailored suit, gold cuff links and golden necktie pin. No one, he said, has caught onto his senator ruse.

''I've used the senator, gosh, 15,000 times and no one's even asked if I was a U.S. or a state senator,'' Roberts said. ''I don't do it to brag. I use it like a tool. Like any tool I would use in business.

''I didn't get anything they didn't gladly want to give me. I never asked for anything first-class. They gave it to me.''

Roberts is not breaking the law because he does not give specifics, such as what district he is from or how he has voted, said S. Peter Capua, a Miami attorney, former Dade County Industrial Claims Court judge and friend of Roberts.

A person has to look confident, well-tended and feel inside like a senator, Roberts said.

''It's an attitude you take. If you would have asked my opinion on an issue, I would have given an answer,'' Roberts said.

Being with Roberts on a junket is an experience, Capua said.

''It is an awesome thing when you realize how people respond,'' said Capua. ''It seems like everybody says, 'Yes, senator. Yes, senator. That will be fine, senator.' ''

In Honored Guest, Roberts says he first posed as a senator in 1962 to win a bet on whether he could get seats on short notice at an exclusive New York restaurant. All it took, he said, was a short telephone chat with the maitre d' in which he introduced himself as Senator Roberts.

''Everybody seemed to be falling all over themselves to do whatever they could to make the senator happy, comfortable and, in general, kiss his behind because of his station in life and the power afforded that position,'' Roberts writes in the manuscript's first chapter.

A simple phone call, he added, would produce waiting limos, the finest seats in the house and, at times, even a police escort.

Challenged to prove his point, and without prior notice, Roberts as ''Senator Roberts'' made reservations at his favorite New Orleans hotel. He called Hans Wandfluh, manager of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

''Hello Senator, how are you today?'' greeted Wandfluh.

Roberts complimented Wandfluh on the pleasures he has experienced at the hotel, then turned the phone over to a reporter who sought details on the treatment the senator and those like him receive at the Royal Sonesta's private tower.

Airlines are also known for treating dignitaries well, Roberts said. He orders tourist-rate tickets, but by the time he finds himself on board he has been escorted by airline officials through the airport, into private lounges and eventually to a first-class seat.

''I haven't flown anything but first-class since I started, and still do,'' Roberts said.

Eastern Airlines, he said, has treatment among the best.

An Eastern representative confirmed Roberts has been a passenger but declined to reveal details of his status as a customer or on the number of flights he has taken.

A bogus senator routine could work, acknowledged Eastern spokesman Glenn Parsons, because with 125,000 passengers a day checking everyone's credentials would be too difficult.

''Certainly some celebrities are provided special service so there is less distraction to the flying public,'' Parsons said. ''Let's face it, if you knew the governor, or whoever, was going to be on board and was going to be one minute late, you're probably not going to shut the door until he is on board.''

Roberts said he wants to tone down his senatorial activities -- even though he recently arranged first-class airline travel on Thanksgiving Day for his son on a flight that reportedly had been booked solid.